Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DC)
Mangaluru, Apr 24: Billawas, who are a dominant community in twin-districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, have revolted against the BJP for ignoring their community while issuing the tickets for assembly polls.
For the first time in the history, when only few weeks are away for the crucial assembly polls, the Billawa associations have unanimously decided to field candidates of their choice in all the constituencies.
The Billawas have already started a social media campaign against the BJP and if everything goes as planned, there will be major change in the local politics.
Already Billawa associations such as Billawa Union, Akhila Bharatha Billawa Mahamandala, Yuva Vahini, Biruver Kudla, Tulanada Biruver including backward caste union leaders have held a meeting in this regard and have decided to field candidates of their choice from the community.
The BJP and the Congress, which has strong hold over the district, have given only one seat each to candidates from the Billawa community. Though they were disappointed over parties ignoring the community in every election, they had not openly vented their anger before.
The sudden revolt of Billawas against the BJP is because of the leaders from the Billawa community being ignored in the assembly polls by giving four seats to leaders from Bunt community.
Except in Sullia, the Billawas are the deciding factor in Dakshina Kannada. In Belthangady there are over 90,000 Billawa voters whereas in Bantwal there are 75,000 Billawas, followed by 63,000 in Mangaluru South, 62,000 in Moodbidri, 58,000 in Mangaluru North constituency, 55,000 in Ullal and 22,000 in Puttur. For the last several years, BJP has succeeded in getting the Billawa votes.
Sadananda Poojary, one of the Billawa leaders said that the political parties have been using the Billawas during elections but when it comes to issuing tickets they have ignored the community. "We will show our power and will announce the names of the candidates soon," he added.
The Billawa leaders have also alleged that BJP MP Nalin Kumar Kateel was directly responsible for their leaders to miss the party tickets. The Billawa community has also decided to field candidates in all the 8 constituencies during Lok Sabha polls in 2019.
In a campaign launched on social media, the Billawas have openly vented their anger against the BJP and asked the voters to teach a lesson to them by opting for NOTA.
The open revolt from the Billawa community is likely to badly affect the BJP in the assembly polls which is due on May 12.